Want to know more about the O’s draft? Here are capsules on all 41 picks — Really!! — and local selections, too

Major League Baseball’s 2016 first-year-player draft is in the books. It’s the first one since BaltimoreBaseball.com came into existence. So we wanted to do something a little special – with the help of some serious internet research – and provide a snapshot of each one of the Orioles’ picks. Seriously. All 41 are highlighted here.

Also included, when possible, are links that will provide even more information on this group (and the locals selected this week, as well).

The Orioles made 41 selections from Thursday through Saturday, including nearly twice as many pitchers as position players (27 to 14). The club picked 15 right-handed pitchers, 12 left-handers, nine infielders and five outfielders. And the organization elected to go with experience in most cases, picking 31 college players and only 10 directly out of high school.

Here’s a look at all of the Orioles’ draft picks, as well as the players with ties to the Baltimore area who were selected over the past few days.

ORIOLES’ 2016 DRAFT PICKS

First round (27th pick): Cody Sedlock, RHP, Illinois

Sedlock, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, threw at least seven innings in eight of his 14 starts this season – including tossing 132 pitches in 10 2/3 scoreless innings (with 14 strikeouts) during a 1-0 win over Ohio State on April 22. Pictured above, the 6-foot-4, 204-pound junior right-hander pitched at least nine innings in his final three starts of the year and allowed just one earned run in each. Sedlock, who will turn 21 next Sunday, struck out 116 hitters and walked 31 in 101 1/3 innings overall. For more details on Sedlock – including quotes from Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich – read my colleague Dan Connolly’s post from Thursday night. To watch MLB.com’s scouting video on Sedlock, click here.

Second round (54th pick): Keegan Akin, LHP, Western Michigan

The 21-year-old left-hander became the Broncos’ highest draft pick in 46 years. Akin, who ranks among the nation’s leaders with 133 strikeouts in 109 innings, pitched two complete games and had a team-best 1.82 ERA in 17 starts this spring. Opponents hit just .192 against him and he allowed just one home run all year. The 6-foot, 200-pound junior relies on a fastball that sits in the low-to-mid 90s and occasionally gets into the upper 90s, according to Baseball America. Before the draft, he told SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo that he thinks he resembles Chicago Cubs left-hander Jon Lester “from a mechanical aspect.” View Akin’s MLB.com scouting video right here.

Staying in the Midwest, the Orioles dipped into the junior-college ranks for their third selection Thursday. Dietz, who committed to TCU in October, was named the Perfect Game/Rawlings Junior College Pitcher of the Year on Tuesday. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander was 12-1 with eight complete games in 13 starts this spring. Dietz, 20, had 117 strikeouts in 103 innings and only gave up 66 hits all season. His fastball sits in the low-to-mid 90s and Baseball America said: “Both his secondary offerings need continued refinement, but his slider has a chance to be at least average.” Check out his MLB.com scouting video here.

Third round (91st pick): Austin Hays, OF, Jacksonville

With their first pick Friday, the club selected its first position player of this year’s draft – the 6-foot, 200-pound right-handed hitter. Hays, who will turn 21 next month, batted .350 with 16 home runs and 42 RBIs in 54 games with the Dolphins this spring. He played his freshman season at Seminole State College of Florida, a junior college in Sanford, before transferring to Jacksonville for the past two years. According to Baseball America, Hays’ “overall package gives him a chance to become a prototypical right fielder.”

Hanifee, who lives about three hours away from Baltimore in Northern Virginia, apparently was drafted by his favorite team. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound right-hander went 7-0 with a 0.78 ERA as a senior and led the Knights to a 21-3 record and the 3A state semifinals. Hanifee, 18, also batted .324 with three home runs, seven doubles, 16 RBIs and 21 runs this spring. The son of Bridgewater College (Va.) assistant Sean Hanifee, he is committed to East Carolina. From Baseball America: “He works mostly in the 88-91 mph range with a low 80s slider and a work-in-progress changeup.”

Torres, 18, became the fourth player selected out of Puerto Rico in this year’s draft. The 6-foot, 183-pound infielder “has good hands and an above-average arm, giving him the tools to make all the necessary plays,” according to Baseball America. That scouting report projects Torres – who has committed to Broward College, a junior college in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – as a utility player, but leaves open the door for future offensive growth. He was picked as a Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason All-American this year.

Sixth round (181st pick): Tobias Myers, RHP, Winter Haven H.S. (Fla.)

The 17-year-old right-hander attends the same high school from which Orioles prospect Trey Mancini graduated. Myers, who had committed to South Florida, told local reporters Friday that he will sign with the Orioles instead of going to college. According to The (Lakeland, Fla.) Ledger, Myers said Orioles officials met with him last month to talk about his signability and potential. The 6-foot, 193-pound right-hander throws around 90 mph “with a solid curveball and a seldom-used changeup,” according to Baseball America. He had an 8-2 record and a 1.51 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 69 2/3 innings as a senior. Watch his MLB.com scouting video here.

Seventh round (211th pick): Preston Palmeiro, 1B, N.C. State

Just hours after the club selected the 21-year-old junior, Dan Connolly spoke to his father, former Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to read the interview here. The younger Palmeiro – who, unlike his father, throws with his right hand – batted .337 with nine home runs in 60 games for the Wolfpack this year. The 6-foot, 185-pound left-handed hitter led the team in hits (82), RBIs (55), doubles (20) and runs (53). Baseball America called Palmeiro an “intelligent hitter,” but also said: “He has a tough profile at first base without big home run power, but he’s a below-average runner, which may preclude a move to left field.”

Eighth round (241st pick): Ryan Moseley, RHP, Texas Tech

Moseley, who was selected in the 36th round in 2013 by the Tampa Bay Rays, entered the year as Texas Tech’s ace and had an outside chance at becoming a first-round pick. But the 21-year-old junior has struggled mightily for the Red Raiders, who have advanced to the NCAA super regionals. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-hander lost his rotation spot early in the season and was 6-4 with a 5.44 ERA in 22 games (four starts) through Friday night. From Baseball America: “He has three pitches to start, but unless he shows significant improvement to his control, a power-reliever future seems more likely.”

Ninth round (271st pick): Lucas Humpal, RHP, Texas State

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound right-hander improved his draft position by 28 rounds after deciding to return to the Bobcats. Last June, the Cleveland Indians took Humpal in the 37th round. This spring, the 22-year-old senior was 7-5 with a 3.06 ERA in 15 starts for Texas State. He had 85 strikeouts in 108 2/3 innings. Humpal went at least seven innings 12 times this year, including two complete games, but Baseball America said he “is a three-pitch right-hander with a 90-92 mph fastball and no above-average secondary offering.”

10th round (301st pick): Cody Dube, RHP, Keene State College (N.H.)

Dube, 21, became the second player from the Division III school to ever be drafted. “It’s just a whole bunch of emotions right now,” Dube said in a news release. “It was a long day waiting by the phone. The Cubs and Orioles both called in the 10th round, and the Orioles had the earlier pick.” As a senior, the 6-foot-1, 198-pound right-hander was 3-3 with a 1.20 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings. He was selected as a Division III All-American and the Little East Conference Pitcher of the Year.

11th round (331st pick): Zack Muckenhirn, LHP, North Dakota

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-hander won’t pitch for the Fighting Hawks next year whether he signs with the Orioles or not. That’s because the school eliminated its baseball program. Muckenhirn, 21, was ranked 203rd in Baseball America’s Top 500 prior to the draft, but he fell to the 11th round. According to the publication, Muckenhirn – who throws three pitches, including a 90-93 mph fastball with late life – “has been spreading the word that he may be a tough sign as he wants to transfer to an SEC school as a senior.” As a junior, Muckenhirn was 3-8 with a 3.59 ERA in 13 starts on a North Dakota team that finished 8-37. He struck out 99 hitters and walked only 14 in 92 2/3 innings. I’m a big fan of his Twitter handle. Here’s a video of him pitching inside in January.

12th round (361st pick): Max Knutson, LHP, Nebraska

Knutson, 21, had a 3-1 record and a 4.38 ERA in 17 games (five starts) for the Cornhuskers this spring. Control appears to be his biggest concern as he walked 22 batters in 37 innings. Knutson’s fastball sits between 92-95 mph, but MLB.com said, “it’s uncertain whether he can sustain that velocity at this point.” Baseball America goes one step further, saying the 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior can touch as high as 96 mph, but bluntly surmises that “whatever team drafts Knutson knows that they will be taking on a project.”

13th round (391st pick): Brandon Bonilla, LHP, Hawaii Pacific

The Orioles selected the son of longtime major league outfielder and third baseman Bobby Bonilla for the second time in three years. In 2014, the club picked him in the 25th round, but he obviously didn’t sign. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound left-hander “has hit 98 mph with his fastball several years running but has had control issues and arm injuries in the past,” according to Baseball America. Bonilla, 22, has bounced around in college, but he finished his senior season by allowing just one earned run in 25 1/3 innings (0.36 ERA) for Division II Hawaii Pacific. As the Sharks’ closer, he ended up 2-0 with 12 saves and 38 strikeouts.

Garcia, 19, played the past season at Eastern Florida State College, formerly Brevard Community College, after spending his freshman year at Alabama State. The Orioles listed the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder as a right-handed pitcher with the selection, but he actually spent most of his time as a position player for the Titans. Garcia made two appearances on the mound this spring, striking out five batters and walking two in three hitless innings. Here’s a quick video of him hitting for the Titans in March.

15th round (451st pick): Nick Jobst, RHP, South Carolina Aiken

The 6-foot-2, 260-pound right-hander made 29 appearances out of the bullpen for the Division II Pacers this year. Jobst, a junior, went 6-3 with five saves and a 4.24 ERA. He struck out 57 hitters in 34 innings. Last year, while Jobst was pitching for a junior college, Baseball America’s Hudson Belinsky said: “Jobst is definitely a reliever, with a max-effort delivery and an across-body finish, but he was clocked as high as 96 by scouts last fall, and certainly has a place in pro baseball.”

Rios, 20, spent his freshman season at Maryland before transferring to the junior college in Fort Myers, Fla., this spring. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound left-hander has been inconsistent so far. This year, he was 3-7 with a 5.80 ERA in 13 games (11 starts) for the Buccaneers. He had 64 strikeouts but also walked 46 batters in 54 1/3 innings. Rios, who is committed to Miami, throws his fastball in the low 90s and also has a hard slider. “He also throws a changeup and curveball, but both offerings lag behind his fastball and slider,” according to Baseball America, which sees him more as a reliever.

17th round (511th pick): Tyler Blohm, LHP, Archbishop Spalding H.S.

The Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year – and Week 6 BaltimoreBaseball.com Prep Ballplayer of the Week – has an interesting decision to make. If Blohm, 18, would like to begin his professional career, he can do it with the hometown team. But if he’d like to improve his draft stock over the next three years, he can do it with the hometown college – Maryland. As a senior, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound left-hander led the Cavaliers to their third consecutive MIAA A Conference championship. Blohm was 9-0 with a 0.74 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 66 innings this spring. His fastball sits in the upper 80s and has touched as high as 91 mph. And he also throws a breaking ball and a changeup.

18th round (541st pick): Layne Bruner, LHP, Washington State

This is easily my favorite highlight involving Bruner. He’s the pitcher who hit Arizona State’s Johnny Sewald with a pitch last season that Sewald caught. The announcer really makes the clip. Anyway, about what Bruner brings to the table: The 6-foot-3, 175-pound left-hander was 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA in 10 innings over 13 appearances for the Cougars this year. Bruner, 21, walked 17 hitters in that span. And he also hit five and threw two wild pitches. The Orioles previously selected Bruner in the 26th round out of high school three years ago, so it seems like club officials believe they can get him under control.

19th round (571st pick): Cole Billingsley, OF, South Alabama

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound outfielder led the Jaguars with 76 hits and 31 stolen bases while starting all 64 games as a senior this spring. It was the second straight season that Billingsley had at least 30 steals. A left-handed hitter who turned 22 last month, he started as a two-way player at South Alabama before undergoing Tommy John surgery that caused him to sit out the entire 2014 season. Baseball America said: “Thanks to his defense and speed, Billingsley profiles well as a fourth outfielder, but with some more offensive improvement, he could develop into something more.”

Rodriguez, 17, comes from the alma mater of Houston Astros shortstop and 2012 No. 1 overall pick Carlos Correa. He’s committed to play next year at Buck Showalter’s alma mater, Chipola College in Marianna, Fla. But, judging from the 6-foot-3, 200-pound left-hander’s Twitter account, it looks like he’s pretty happy about being selected by the Orioles, so I’m not sure if that’s ever going to happen. Here’s a video from January that breaks down his pitching mechanics.

21st round (631st pick): Chris Clare, SS, High Point

A first-team All-Big South Conference selection, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound junior infielder led the Panthers with a .345 average and 39 runs this season. Clare, 21, also contributed 15 doubles, 27 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. He is currently playing with the Holly Springs Salamanders in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer league that uses wooden bats. And from this write-up on the Salamanders’ website, it appears Clare has at least one thing in common with Orioles center fielder Adam Jones.

22nd round (661st pick): Nickolas Gruener, RHP, Harvard

The 6-foot, 195-pound right-hander led the Ivy League and ranked third in Division I with seven complete games in nine starts as a junior this spring. Gruener, 21, was 5-4 with a 2.76 ERA and struck out 49 batters in 62 innings for the Crimson. He was a second-team All-Ivy League pick. In this recruiting video from four years ago, Gruener was listed as throwing in the upper 80s. I couldn’t find a recent radar-gun reading. Oh, and if you’re interested in what “Her Campus at Harvard” thinks about him, well, um, just click here.

23rd round (691st pick): Tyler Erwin, LHP, New Mexico State

Erwin, 21, pitched his first two seasons at South Mountain Community College in Arizona before transferring to play for the Aggies as a junior this spring. The 6-foot, 185-pound left-hander tied a school record with 33 appearances – including two against Towson in February. He had a 2-1 record and 55 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings. In a statement from the school, Erwin talked about how being drafted “was a dream come true.” Get to know a little more about him in this interview from April.

24th round (721st pick): Zach Matson, LHP, Crowder College (Mo.)

In 18 games – including seven starts – at the Missouri community college this season, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound left-hander went 6-3 with a 4.62 ERA and five saves. He struck out 67 hitters in 48 2/3 innings. Watch Matson, 20, throw a bullpen session last fall in this video.

25th round (751st pick): Will Toffey, 3B, Vanderbilt

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound, draft-eligible sophomore has already said he’s not going to sign with the club. “I really appreciate the Orioles drafting me, and I don’t take that for granted,” Toffey told Adam Sparks of The Tennessean on Saturday. “It’s an honor. But I don’t have any intentions of signing.” As a freshman last season, Toffey had a key two-run double in Game 1 of the College World Series championship series against Virginia.

26th round (781st pick): Jaime Estrada, 3B, Central Arizona College

In 56 games for the Vaqueros this year, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound infielder batted .382 with three home runs and 47 RBIs. Estrada, 20, also scored 61 runs and had nine stolen bases. A two-year junior-college player, he is committed to play at NAIA school Missouri Baptist next year if he doesn’t sign with the Orioles.

Considered a hard commit to Stanford, it’s probably a long shot that the Orioles can sign the 6-foot-1, 190-pound infielder. Bakst, 18, played on the U.S. under-18 national team that won the gold medal in Japan last summer. A shortstop in high school, Baseball America said, “He lacks the smooth actions and quick feet usually found at the position, leading some to project him to play third base or a corner outfield position.”

28th round (841st pick): Matt De La Rosa, RHP, Lenoir-Rhyne

Like the club’s 14th-round pick, Ruben Garcia, De La Rosa was listed as a right-handed pitcher in the draft release even though he spent the majority of his time as a position player for the Bears this season. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior batted .357 and led the team with 61 RBIs while starting all 51 games. De La Rosa, 22, was 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA in 5 1/3 innings over five games on the mound. It looks like he’s excited for the opportunity.

29th round (871st pick): Wil Dalton, OF, Summit H.S. (Tenn.)

Dalton, 18, batted .500 with three home runs, 19 doubles and 44 RBIs in 41 games for the Spartans as a senior this spring. He also had 34 stolen bases and scored 57 runs. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound outfielder, who is committed to San Jacinto College in Texas, was named The Tennessean’s All-Midstate Player of the Year. Before the draft, Dalton told the newspaper that he had a few major league teams contact him, but he will “cross that bridge when it gets here.” Well, now it’s here.

30th round (901st pick): Garrett Copeland, 2B, Austin Peay

Call him the “Iron Man of Austin Peay.” Just don’t tell Cal that I said that. In three seasons with the Governors, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound switch-hitter started every game. That’s 164 straight. Copeland, 21, batted .319 with four home runs, 32 RBIs, 42 walks and 12 stolen bases in 57 games as a junior this year. Autumn Allison of the (Clarksville, Tenn.) Leaf-Chronicle reports that he’ll decide whether to sign by the middle of the week.

31st round (931st pick): Jake Ring, OF, Missouri

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound outfielder batted second or third for the Tigers as a junior this spring. Ring, 21, had a team-high 25 stolen bases and batted .317 in 56 games. He didn’t commit an error all season and appears to have a pretty good arm. Baseball America describes Ring as ” a center fielder with plus speed and a swing to find the gaps.”

32nd round (961st pick): Ryan Mauch, LHP, South Hills H.S. (Calif.)

After going 14-1 with a 1.47 ERA during his sophomore and junior seasons, the 6-foot-4, 185-pound left-hander suffered a torn ACL while playing football last August. Mauch, who will turn 19 next month, worked to get back to help the Huskies in a relief role at the end of his senior season this spring. Watch this video of the Long Beach State commitment talking with the Southern California News Group about returning from the injury. And here’s a prospect video of Mauch throwing recently.

Jones, who initially had committed to N.C. State out of high school, batted .406 with 34 extra-base hits – 14 doubles, 10 triples and 10 home runs – in 59 games this season. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound switch-hitter also had 55 RBIs, 70 runs and 23 stolen bases in 26 attempts. He is committed to play next year at Campbell University in North Carolina.

34th round (1,021st pick): Lucas Brown, RHP, Troy

The 6-foot, 185-pound senior right-hander was 8-4 with a 3.10 ERA in 15 starts for the Trojans this season. In 101 2/3 innings, Brown had 71 strikeouts and walked 28 batters. Like a lot of college pitchers, he threw a ton of pitches – topping out at 132 in a win over Appalachian State in April and averaging 106 per start. The Sun Belt Conference picked Brown, 22, for its all-conference second team.

35th round (1,051st pick): Tanner Kirk, 2B, Wichita State

Kirk, 22, responded on Twitter about how you’d expect a senior to react when finding out he was going to get a chance to play professional baseball. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound infielder batted .245 with 17 RBIs and 20 runs in 50 games (40 starts) for the Shockers this year.

36th round (1,081st pick): Ben Brecht, LHP, New Trier H.S. (Ill.)

Committed to UC Santa Barbara, the 6-foot-7, 200-pound left-hander throws three pitches, according to his MLB.com scouting report – “a fastball that sits 86-88 mph, along with a fading changeup and slow curveball.” Brecht, 18, told the Pioneer Press in April that “it remains to be seen” whether he’d skip his college eligibility if he were drafted. Here’s a video of Brecht pitching that was posted in May.

37th round (1,111th pick): James Teague, RHP, Arkansas

The 6-foot, 195-pound right-hander struggled for the Razorbacks this spring. In 18 appearances, including one start, Teague was 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA. Opponents batted .300 against him. Teague, 21, missed time at the end of his sophomore year in 2015 with a stress reaction in his elbow. According to the Bartlesville (Okla.) Examiner-Enterprise, the junior said “he’s leaning toward signing with the O’s, but still needs to go through the negotiating process.”

The first-team All-Southern Conference selection started in all 59 games at third base and batted cleanup in 58 of them as a senior this spring. Woody, 21, batted .349 with 10 home runs, 23 doubles, 60 runs and 66 RBIs. In addition to his success at the plate, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound right-hander also made 20 relief appearances for the Spartans. Woody finished with a 2-2 record and 3.60 ERA in 30 innings.

39th round (1,171st pick): Seth Shuman, RHP, Valdosta H.S. (Ga.)

The 6-foot, 190-pound right-hander signed a national letter of intent in February to play quarterback at Georgia Southern. And Shuman, 18, told The Valdosta Daily Times on Saturday that he plans to honor that commitment. “I’m pretty sure I’m still going to go to Georgia Southern,” he told the newspaper. “I have the opportunity to still play baseball and football there and maybe get drafted higher later towards the end of my career there.”

40th round (1,201st pick): Joe Johnson, RHP, Erskine College (S.C.)

Johnson, 22, has a low point of delivery that’s similar to Orioles setup man Darren O’Day. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound right-hander was named the Pitcher of the Year in the Division II Conference Carolinas. Johnson went 6-4 with a 2.62 ERA and four saves in 20 appearances for the Flying Fleet. He struck out 59 batters and walked 17 in 55 innings.

PLAYERS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS

Mike Shawaryn, RHP, Maryland

The Boston Red Sox picked the 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior in the fifth round (148th overall). Shawaryn, 21, was 6-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 15 starts for the Terps this season.

Kevin Lachance, SS, UMBC

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected the 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior in the 10th round (311th overall). Lachance, who will turn 22 next month, batted .373 with 50 runs and 28 stolen bases in 51 games for the Retrievers this year.

Brady Policelli, C, Towson

The Detroit Tigers took the 5-foot-10, 195-pound junior in the 13th round (385th overall). Policelli, who will turn 21 in less than two weeks, batted .375 with nine home runs, 45 RBIs and 22 stolen bases for the Tigers this spring.

Dominic DiSabatino, RHP, Harford Community College

The 6-foot-5, 190-pound sophomore went in the 20th round (594th overall) to the San Diego Padres. DiSabatino, 20, made five appearances for the Owls, tossing 4 2/3 scoreless innings overall. At the plate, he batted .411 with 14 home runs and 68 RBIs in 64 games.

Joe Burton, OF, Harford Community College

In the 24th round (728th overall), the New York Yankees picked the second Harford Community College player of the day. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound freshman hit .407 with 16 home runs, 65 RBIs and 71 runs in 62 games. Burton, 20, also had 23 stolen bases.

Mike Rescigno, RHP, Maryland

The second Terps player went off the board in the 25th round (755th overall), when the San Francisco Giants picked the 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior. Rescigno, 21, made 23 appearances for the Terps this spring, going 2-1 with a 5.59 ERA.

Steven Ridings, RHP, Messiah College (Pa.)

The Seattle Mariners selected the 6-foot-4, 210-pound right-hander in the 29th round (867th overall). Ridings, 22, graduated from Annapolis Area Christian School in 2012. In 14 games this season, he was 7-4 with a 1.72 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings.

Robert Galligan, LHP, Maryland

In the 36th round (1,079th overall), the Arizona Diamondbacks selected the 6-foot-4, 218-pound fifth-year senior. Galligan, 22, was 0-3 with a 3.09 ERA this season.

Luke Gillingham, LHP, Navy

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 37th round (1,122nd overall). Gillingham, 22, had an 8-4 record with a 2.35 ERA in 14 starts this year.